Method of waste collection from textile frames



C. R. HARRIS April 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 9, 1953 w 11 1 n "v v "c l. nuo n u l F w )v\ a a v O 1./ c v e r. c nc 4 8 34A d 7 A u n W k w e .Pm A d, u n u d. d \o\ n 1 M uw l'\\ yl. 1| xl IJ .lin-l c c n Y m n n k (rx Ll. ITL (TL INVENTOR CHARLES R. HARRIS www FIG. 2.

ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1963 C. R. HARRIS 3,084,077

METHOD OF WASTE COLLECTION FROM TEXTILE FRAMES Original Filed Deo. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR CHARLES R. HARRS URM MM ATTORNEY.

United States This invention relates to .a method of waste collection, more particularly to a method for use in collection of waste material from textile frames.

This application is a division of co-pending parent application S.N. 397,098, tiled December 9, 1953, now Patent 2,979,754. As set forth in this parent application, text-ile fabricating mills or plans for spinning cotton iibers and the like, frequently employ central waste collection systems for removal of ily, lint, and the like foreign matter normally arising incident to operation of the spinning frames. Suction cleaning systems of the Pneumaiil type have been employed in which individual collecting heads are `arranged adjacent the rolls of the spinning frame. Each head is coupled by appropriate duct work to a main trunk. In o-rder to collect the fore-ign matter, relatively large quantities of air at low velocity are employed in which the foreign matter or waste is entrained.

Prominent among the problems encountered in the handling of quantities of air previously employed, typically as much as 12,000 pounds of air to collect one pound of waste; the need for complicated filters requiring selfcleaning mechanisms; and incompatibility 'with existing waste separation apparatus, which normally is capable of handling waste to air ratios of the order of one to 500",

arises.

-It is with the above problems in mind, that the present method has been evolved, a method permitting the use of relatively loiw quantities of air to effect desired Waste cleaning operations in a textile mill.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a simple, economical, and reliable method for pneumatically cleaning textile mills.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for pneumatically cleaning textile mill equipment in which waste to air ratios may be reduced thus minimizing the required quantities of air.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereinafter apparent may be carried out with a variety of equipment. It is contemplated however that most eiiicient lpractice of the instant novel method may be obtained by utilizing the apparatus disclosed in parent application S.N. 397,098, now Patent 2,979,754. As disclosed in this patent, a preferred waste removal system is employed in which waste collecting means individual to the respective spinning frames of the textile mill are provided. The material collected in said waste collecting means are fed to a main trunk which is coupled to a waste separator. A waste concentrator in said main trunk in advance of said waste separator serves to increase the waste to a-ir ratio in said main trunk and releases a limited volume of air for re-use. In practicing applicants novel method by the use of this or similar apparatus, the waste in the spinning `frames of a textile mill is pneumatically collected adjacent each of the spinning frames yin the mill. The pneumatically collected waste is fed to a central point where the waste to air ratio is concentrated. The excess air not required for further movement of the concentrated lwaste is then returned to the mill for reuse; and the concentrated waste is pneumatically fed to a separator for removal from the carrying air stream.

The specic details of a preferred embodiment of the ati lee

invention showing typical apparatus by which the novel method may be practiced is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view diagrammatically showing a plurality of spinning frames associated with a waste collecting system by which the method of this invention may be practiced;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation with parts broken away, showing further details of the waste collection system; and i FIG. 3 is a sectional schematic view on an enlarged scale of apparatus by which the steps of increasing the waste to air ratio in the collecting air stream may be accomplished.

Referring now speciiically to the drawings, FIG. l illustrates a plurality of spinning frames 10 enclosed within a room or mill area 12. Each of the frames 10 is served by respective suction ducts 14- including plural nozzles or orifices :14a and communicating with a main line or trunk 16; the main trunk or duct 116 delivers the collective air stream with a relatively low lint concentration to a plenum chamber or room 18. Located within the plenum chamber 18 is a suction fan 20 having an inlet conduit 22 connected to the main trunk 16.

The discharge end 24 of the fan 20 delivers the lint containing air stream to a concentrator 26 which increases the lint to air ratio in the collecting stream and releases a limited volume of air for re-use. Concentrator 26 includes inlet end 2S and outlet 30. Interconnecting the inlet and outlet ends 28, and 30 respectively of the concentrator Z6 is a foram-inous frusto-conical wall 32. The foraminous wall 32 of concentrator 26 permits the escape of air free of lint from the collecting air stream passing through the concentrator 26. At outlet end 30 of concentrator 26, a conduit 34 leads the collecting air stream to conventional waste separating apparatus 39 as best seen in FIG. l.

The return air released by concentrator 26 may be routed through air dampers 36 to the adjoining mill area or exhausted through relief dampers 38 to the outside atmosphere.

Operation In practicing the method of the instant invention, the waste to be cleared from the apparatus in a textile mill is first collected in a stream of air.

The collecting air stream then has a portion of its air diverted so as to increase the waste to a-ir ratio of the collecting air Stream, and the diverted air is returned to the mill area. In this way any air conditioning eects in the mill area, such as the air humiditication normally provided, is not substantially interfered with since a major portion of the conditioned air removed from the mill area during the collection of waste is returned to the mill area.

The waste remaining in the air stream is conveyed by this carrier air stream of a relatively high waste to air ratio to a point where the waste can be separated from the carrier air stream.

It is thus seen that a simple method has been provided facilitating the handling of the necessary relatively large quantities of air required for clearing of iwaste in a textile mill, with provision for re-use of most of the air, and concentration of the waste into a desirably smaller carrier stream, which may be effectively handled by known collection apparatus.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of collecting waste in textile mills,

the steps which consist in collecting Waste in a stream Of air, diverting air from said collecting stream leaving a carrier stream having a relatively high Waste concentration, and feeding said carrier stream to Waste-separation apparatus.

2. A method of collecting waste from spinning frames including the steps of removing Waste from the respective spinning frames by collecting a relatively large volume of air having a low Waste to air ratio, filtering off a major portion of said relatively large volume for re-use leaving a reduced volume having a high waste to air ratio, and feeding said reduced volume to Waste conveying and separation apparatus.

3. A method of collecting waste from spinning frames including the steps of pneumatically removing iwaste from the respective spinning frames by a collecting stream of air, concentrating said collecting stream to leave a car- References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 256,989 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1949 

1. IN THE METHOD OF COLLECTING WASTE IN TEXTILE MILLS, THE STEPS WHICH CONSISTS IN COLLECTING WASTE IN A STREAM OF AIR, DIVERTING AIR FROM SAID COLLECTING STREAM LEAVING A CARRIER STREAM HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH WASTE CONCENTRATION, AND FEEDING SAID CARRIER STREAM TO WASTE-SEPARATION APPARATUS. 